Gym class revisited

It’s hard to believe you can find grown men
playing dodgeball in a sort of impromptu league in Perry County.
Although the fact that it takes place in a barn probably makes the idea a
little more plausible.

Dan Paul of New Bloomfield owns Paul’s
Storage on Route 34 at Meck’s Corner. He bought the nearby barn in 2000
and turned part of it into an enclosed court for racquetball, tennis,
volleyball and most recently, dodgeball.

Dodgeball appeared almost accidentally.
Paul said he was recovering from surgery when a friend invited him to a
dodgeball tournament at the Family Life Center near Newport. He said he
wasn’t sure he could throw, but went anyway. He was amazed at how much
fun he had. That’s when Paul decided his barn court would be perfect for
the sport.

Since December, every Wednesday night up
to 20 guys show up ready to relive their childhoods. “The 6th grade
mentality comes back,” said Paul. Although the next day he reports an
older-than-sixth-grade stiffness in his shoulder. “Until the following
week, we’re ready to go again.”

Each game goes quickly, lasting just a few
minutes. Four balls are placed in the middle of the court. Two teams of
five are at opposite walls. When the whistle blows, the teams race for
the balls and try to tip them back to their side. The excitement begins
after the players return to the wall where they can start throwing at
their opponents.

Some find it hard to believe that grown
men play dodgeball. Former West Perry quarterback Kyle Ream happened to
be on the court for the first time on a recent Wednesday. Answering his
cell phone, he revealed his location. “I’m playing dodgeball,” ... a
brief pause ...“Yeah, I’m serious.”

Between games another player, who
incidentally just had taken a ball to the head, remarked, “It’s the same
at work. I tell people, ‘No, I can’t, I’m playing dodgeball tonight,’
and they’re like, ‘What?’”

“It really surprised me that it took off
as well as it did,” said Paul. He enjoys seeing the players relive their
childhood. “When you watch the people, their faces are lit up. There’s
so much energy there.”

Generating, and burning, energy is Paul’s goal. He wants to “get people up off their butts and to make them happy.”

That’s only natural because Paul himself
rarely is still. “If I’m not doing anything, I’m going insane. That
would be punishment for me, to make me sit and watch TV.”

Paul is 43 and holds a black belt in kung
fu. He also teaches self-defense and plays racquetball and tennis with
his daughter on the dodgeball court. “I’m over 40. I still can get out
there and kick those 15- and 20-year-old guys’ butts,” he said.

It’s classic dodgeball in the barn. Paul
has been to a West Perry school where they still play dodgeball, but he
didn’t care for the balls they used. “I tried them out. They curve.
They’re too politically correct. Nothing’s as good as the old playground
balls.”

Paul’s only regret is that no locals have
taken his offer to use the court. He has contacted various youth
organizations and so far no takers.

For those who might have seen the movie
“Dodgeball” starring Ben Stiller, Paul’s league started before he saw
the movie. His review: “It was OK.” Apparently it doesn’t come near the
real thing.